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China's First International Vertical Run Takes Place in China World Summit Wing, Beijing

3 августа 2013 г.

Beijing, 3 August 2013 — The highest hotel in Beijing, Shangri-La’s China World Summit Wing, Beijing, hosted the first-ever vertical run in China accredited by the International Skyrunning Federation (ISF) today. The 330-metre tower challenged 600 runners from different countries, including 12 elite athletes vying to be crowned 2013 Vertical World Circuit (VWC) champions, to climb 82 floors and 2,041 steps. The world’s first and only skyscraper racing circuit, VWC is uniting some of the world’s most iconic skyscraper races, including vertical runs at the Empire State Building in New York and Taipei 1-0-1 tower in Taiwan.

Reigning Vertical World Circuit Champion Thomas Dold of Germany won the inaugural China World Summit Wing Hotel Vertical Run on Saturday, setting the overall fastest time up Beijing’s tallest building.

The win is Dold’s first outright victory on this year’s Vertical World Circuit, earning him 100 points on the men’s ranking. The 28-year old German finished in a time of 9 minutes and 55 seconds to take home the winning prize purse of USD 1,000.

“This is my first time in China, so I am very happy to have come here and to have won this great challenge. The highlight is the fantastic view over Beijing when reaching the finish line. It makes the whole effort worthwhile. I’m definitely looking forward to coming back for next year’s race,” Dold said.

In the women’s division, Australia’s Suzy Walsham climbed to her third win of the year, finishing in 11 minutes 47 seconds.

“This race was not easy as the course changes all the time,” said Walsham. “I had to dig deep today to win and last ten floors were especially difficult. To be crowned the first China World Summit Wing Hotel Vertical Run champion is a great honour.”

Also joining the vertical marathon was China World Summit Wing General Manager Thomas Schmitt-Glaeser. "We are extremely proud to see this first event become such a resounding success. We are happy to support community events at our hotel, especially ones that help raise funds for charity and promote healthy and active lifestyle. I ran myself and I look forward to doing this again, " he said.

As the official charity of the event, all proceeds from paid race entries will be donated to China Rural Kids Health Care (CRKC). The aim of CRKCis to provide free medical insurance for children from poor families in rural China, creating an opportunity for these children to get subsidised medical and health care. Registration for the Vertical Run was RMB 80, of which RMB 75 will fund a year’s insurance for one child. Each of the 600 competing runners is sponsoring the health insurance of a child for one year.

The post-run award ceremony saw both amateur and elite runners share their happiness and excitement with their support teams of friends and relatives as well as guests. The fastest male and female runners from the general public were Hao Wei and Xing Ru Ling, both from China. Their results are 11 min 42 sec and 14 min 22 sec respectively.

Each of them was rewarded with a trip to the U.K. featuring a three-night stay in a suite at the soon-to-open Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, London and round-trip flights from Beijing to London provided by Emirates.

To learn more about the results of China World Summit Wing Hotel Vertical Run, please go to www.verticalrun.cn.

According to organisers from ISF, the China World Summit Wing Hotel Vertical Runwas one of the most challenging races on the VWC this year, taking into consideration the tower has 82 floors and 2,041 steps.

Shangri-La’s China World Summit Wing, Beijing proved to be the perfect location for the prestigious sports event. The rooftop of the building, where the race finished, offered unparalleled bird’s eye views across the whole of Beijing, with sights such as the Forbidden City providing a unique backdrop.

China World Summit Wing also features the city’s highest dining and entertainment venues, including six restaurants, two bars and a lounge. For guest relaxation and recreation, the hotel features Beijing’s highest spa retreat – CHI, The Spa on Level 77.

China World Trade Centre, where the iconic tower is located, opened in 1990 and is one of the world’s largest upscale commercial mixed-use developments. The complex includes hotels, offices, apartments, exhibition halls and a shopping mall.